Printing sheet gripping device for use with printing saddle

ABSTRACT

A printing sheet gripping device is disclosed which is attached to the rear edge portion of a printing saddle. The printing sheet as used herein includes the yieldable sheet-like material type, such as a synthetic resin printing sheet. This printing sheet gripping device permits the ready gripping of the printing sheet without removing the saddle from the printing cylinder. This simple operation is enabled by use of the gripping device of a novel construction which consists essentially of a gripping member and a holder, said gripper being adapted to assume a released or open position, when forcing the holder against the saddle.

United States Patent Nakagawa 1 July 29, 1975 [54] PRINTING SHEET GRIPPING DEVICE FOR 3,696,744 10/1972 Etchell 101/415.1 USE WITH PRINTING SADDLE 3,750,572 8/1973 EtChCll |0l/4l5.l 3,766,857 10/1973 Schlatter.... 101/415.1 Inventor: filroyukl g a, okyo. Jap 3,791,295 2/1974 Albright 101/4151 [73] Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Osaka, Japan Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant ExaminerPaul J. Hirsch [22] Flled: 21, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion, 211 Appl. No.: 453,475 & Macpeak [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [571 ABSTRAPT Mar 22 1973 la an 4832958 A prmting sheet gripping dev1ce 1s disclosed which is p attached to the rear edge portion of a printing saddle. June 1 1973 Japan 48-62276 The prmtmg sheet as used herem includes the yield- [52] U S C] 101/415 101/378 able sheet-like material type, such as a synthetic resin [51] 27/06 Z 27/12 printing sheet. This printing sheet gripping device per- [58] Fieid 101/415 1 378 mits the ready gripping of the printing sheet without removing the saddle from the printing cylinder. This [56] References Cited simple operation is enabled by use of the gripping device of a novel construction which consists essentially UNITED S TATES PATENTS of a gripping member and a holder, said gripper being .ilI'OLlSek adapted to assume 3 released or pen po ition when forcing the holder against the saddle.

3,416,447 12/1968 Pozniak 101/415.] 9 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULZQIHTS seem FIG.3 FIG F105 PATENYED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET FIG.12

FIGM

PRINTING SHEET GRIPPING DEVICE FOR USE WITH PRINTING SADDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a printing sheet gripping device for use with a printing saddle.

Recently, yieldable printing sheets such as a synthetic resin sheet have been substituted for metallic printing boards. However, aproblem encountered with the use of such a synthetic resin printing sheet is that, for maintaining the printing sheet in an optimum condition during printing operation, the printing sheet has to be attached to the surface of a printingsaddle in a tensioned condition in order. to accommodate for the elongation of the printing sheet, which would accrue from the continuing printing operation, as well as to prevent the flapping at the trailing edge of the printing sheet. In addition to this, it is desired to attach, the printing sheet to or remove same from the printing saddle without removing the latter frornthe printing cylinder thereby enhancing operational. efficiency. However, the prior art only meets partial success in attaching the printing sheet to the surface of theprinting saddle ina te'nsioned condition by providing an attachment for the printing sheet, which attachement is secured tothe rear edge portion of the saddle and urged so as to project outwardly. As a result, the attaching or removing of the printing sheet to or from the saddle necessarily requires the removal of the saddle from the printing cylinder, More particularly, the prior art includes: a groove provided in the surface of the front edge portion of the saddle and open in a forward upper direction of the saddle and having an engaging groove open in a forward upper projecting direction; and a printing sheet having rigid edge covering pieces extending both along the leading and trailing edges of the' sheet, said pieces engaging said groove. Thus, the printing sheet may be attached by positively pressing the attachment of the trailing edge of the printing sheet into the rear end portion of the saddle. A printing plate may notbeattached to the saddle without removing the saddle from the saddle supporting cylinder. 1

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION *It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a printing sheet gripping device for use with a printing saddle, which permits the attaching of the printing sheet to the surface of -a saddle in a tensioned relation by virtue of the automatic projecting movement of a gripper from the rear end of the saddle, said gripper having been maintained in an automatic closed condition till then, thereby maintaining-the printing sheet in an optimum condition during printing operation. e e I It is a further object of the invention to provide a printing sheet gripping device for use with a printing saddle, which permits the'positiye anc l,rapid opening or release of the gripping member with respect to a holder, while insuring efficient printing operation.

These and other objects and related features of the invention will be apparent from the reading of the ensuing part of the specification in conjunction with the accompariying drawings and the appended claims. Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout drawings,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of the present "invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view, partly in section, showing the one side of the gripper opening means according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the gripper opening means according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines IV-lV, V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII and VIII-VIII :of FIG. 2, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a partial view of another embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 10-13 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X-X', XI-XI, XII-XII, XIII-XIII of FIG.

9, respectively;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGSII to 8, there is shown a printing sheet gripping device according to the present invention. The device includes a gripper consisting of a holder 10 and a gripping member 11, and a gripper opening means 12, being located on the rear surface of a saddle 13. The gripping member 11 is attached to the holder 10 in a manner which will be described hereinafter, and has different lengths in a longitudinal direction ofa saddle from that of the holder It). The term longitudinal" as used herein is meant by the longitudinal direction of a saddle. The holder 10, together with the gripping member, is secured to the rear surface of the saddle 13, after which the gripper will be opened due to the edge aligning operation of the holder 10 and gripping member 11 on the side opposite the projecting direction thereof. Shown at 14 is a recessed portion having rectangular projections 15 spaced a predetermined distance from each other and'formed in the rear surface of the saddle 13. The holder 10 has a L shaped cross section and an inner surface maintained in sliding contact relation to the recessed portion 14 as shown in FIG. 5, with the rear edge portion engaging the rectangular projections 15 as shown in FIG. 2, allowing the longitudinal movement thereof. Shown at 16 is a guide member attached to the saddle 13 to guide the longitudinal movement thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 16 consists of a guide piece 18 adapted to fit in'an elongated 'hole extending in a longitudinal direction specified, a rivet 19 and a washer 20, both of which are adapted to support the holder 10 in the recessed portion 14 in sliding contact relation. The holder 10 is attached to the inner rear edge portion of the saddle in a retracted position from the rear surface of the saddle 13 in an attempt to prevent the interference with the mounting of'the saddle 13 on the printing cylinder. The

rivet 19 and the washer 20 are housed in the recessed groove 21 for the same reason as above. In addition, the holder is urged as to project from the rear end of the saddle 13 by means of a spring 22 interposed between the projection and the holder 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

The spring 22 is housed in grooves 23 and 24 provided in facing relation to each other in the sliding surface of the recessed portion 14 and that of the holder 10, respectively, said grooves extending in a longitudinal direction, thus eliminating the interference with the attaching of the holder 10 in press contact relation to the shoulder portion or surface (14') of the recessed portion 14. The holder 10 is limited as to the projecting extent from the rear end of the saddle in connection to the engagement with the aforesaid guide member 16.

The gripping member 1 1 is ofa strip or bar shape facing the shoulder portion 10' of the holder 10 and has a projecting square piece 25 which faces the shoulder portion 14 of the recessed portion 14 and extends perpendicularly of the gripping member 11, said projecting square piece 25 being adapted to slidingly fit in the cut-away portion 26 in the holder 10 in longitudinally movable relation therein.

The cut-away portion 26 extends in a longitudinal direction through the contacting surfaces of the shoulder portion 10' of the holder 10 with the recessed portion 14.

Represented by 27 is a holding piece secured to the sliding surface of the holder 10 and adapted to hold the projecting piece 25 in the cut-away portion 26 in a longitudinally movable relation. A recessed groove 28 is provided in the recessed portion 14 in a manner that the holding piece 27 will not hinder the longitudinal movement of the holder due to its projecting movement. The gripping member 11 is attached by utilizing the cut-away portion 26 to the holder 10 in a longitudinally movable relation thereto, as has been described earlier. The gripping member 11 is greater in the longitudinal length than that of the holder 10. Furthermore, the gripping member 11 is formed with a gripping edge portion 11' facing the outer face of the shoulder portion 10' of the holder 10. Then the distance of the gripping edge portion 11' to the shoulder portion 10 (gripper open gap) will be defined at the time of the edge alignment of the holder 10 and the gripping member 1].

Shown at 29 is a spring interposed between the shoulder portion 25' integral with but perpendicular to the projecting square portion 25 of the gripping member 11 at the rear edge portion thereof and the shoulder portion 10 of the holder 10, said shoulder portion 10' facing the shoulder portion 25', as shown in FIG. 8

Due to the provision of the spring 29, the gripper is adapted to automatically close, i.e., the spring 29 urges the gripping edge portion 11 of the gripping member 11 against the shoulder portion 10' of the holder 10. The spring 29 is housed in an elongated hole 30 having the front end open and provided in the longitudinal direction in the projecting square portion 25. In one embodiment, the gripper opening means 12 consists of a lever 31, an engaging hook 32 and a projection 33,

being positioned in the rear portion but on the opposite.

sides of the saddle 13. Shown at 34 is an attaching piece adapted to be attached to the rear but opposite sides of the saddle for securing the gripper opening means 12 to the saddle. The lever 31 pivots about pin 35 while the engaging hook 32 is pivoted to pin 36. The lever 31 and the engaging hook 32, with the engaging hook in engagement with the elongated projection 33, forms a toggle mechanism, with the lever 31 included toward the side of the pin 36. With this mechanism, when the lever 31 is rotated toward the side of the saddle 13, the holder 10 having the elongated projection 33 is arrested by the rectangular projection 15 against the projecting force by means of the spring 22.

Shown at 37 is a cut-away portion defined in the side edge of the saddle for containing the attaching piece 34 and lever 31 within the contour of the saddle 13.

In operation of the printing sheet gripping device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, when the synthetic resin printing sheet is attached to the saddle 13 which is mounted on a printing cylinder, the gripper opening means 12 provided on the rear edge portion but on the opposite sides of the saddle 13 is manipulated by rotating the lever 31, with the engaging hook 32 in engagement with the projection 33 of the holder 10.

In the course of the aforesaid manipulation, the holder 10 will be retracted in the rear edge portion of the saddle under the guidance of the guide member l6 against the projecting force accruing due to the action of the spring 22 and eventually held in position by the shoulder portion 14' of the recessed portion 14.

Meanwhile, the holder 10 is so designed that the spring 29 will urge the gripping edge portion 11"of the gripping member 11 against the shoulder portion 10. Furthermore, the length of the projecting square portion 25 is greater in a longitudinal direction than that of the holder 10, thus defining the open gap of the gripper consisting of holder 10 and gripping member 11. With this arrangement, when the holder 10 is held against the shoulder portion 14 of the recessed portion 14 which is the rear part of the saddle 13, the rear end of the gripping member 11 will be held against the shoulder portion or surface 14' against the urging force by means of the spring 29, such that the gripper will be opened. FIGS. 2 and 4-8 show the gripper opening condition. FIG. 3 shows the condition of the gripper opening means 12 at the time of the open condition of the gripper.

Subsequently, the trailing edge of the synthetic resin printing sheet is inserted in the opened gripper, said sheet having a leading edge engaged by the front end of the saddle 13. Then, the gripper opening means. 12 is operated by the reverse rotation of the lever 31. In

the course of the aforesaid operation, the holder 10 and the gripping member 11 are subjected to a projecting force by means of the spring 22 until the closure of the gripper, thus allowing only the holder 10 to project from the rear end of the saddle 13, after which, upon closure of the gripper, the holder 10 and the gripping member 11 receive a gripper-closing force due to the spring 29 to jointly project outwardly with the aid of the aforesaid action of the spring 22. Accordingly, the aforesaid printing sheet is held on its trailing edge by the gripper and attached to the surface of the saddle in tensioned relation due to the projecting force of the pp -f1 In this respect, the gripper opening means 12 is received within the contour of the saddle 13, with the engaging hook 32 being disengaged from the elongated projection 33 of the holder 10.

FIGS. 9-18 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which there are shown another type of "of the recessed portion 14' in parallel withthe sliding surface of the recessed-portion-14 with respect to the holder '10. One of the pins 38 serves'to exclusively guide the holder with respect to the longitudinal movement of the holder 10, as shown in FIG. 11 and is fitted in a guide hole 40 provided in the holder 10. The other pin 39, as shown in FIG. 13, has a head portion and is fitted in a guide hole 42 extending through the holder 10, thereby preventing off-coming of the holder and defining the projecting extent thereof by means of the engagement with the head portion 39' with the internal flange 41'. As described earlier, the holder 10 is attached to the rear edge portion of the saddle 13, while the spring 22 encompasses the pin 39 and is interposed between the uprising portion or surface 14' of the recessed portion 14 and the internal flange 41' within the guide hole 41.

Shown at 42 is an attaching pin with a head portion extending perpendicularly from the gripping member 11 in place of the projecting square piece 25. The attaching pin 42, as shown in FIG. 12, is fitted in a guide hole 43 having small and large diameter portions, with said large diameter portion being positioned on the side of the shoulder portion or surface 14 of the recessed portion 14, the pin 42 being fitted therein from the side of the aforesaid shoulder portion 14' to the holder 10, while the spring 29 encompasses the attaching pin 42 and is interposed between the head portion 42' and the shoulder portion 43' in the stepped guide hole 43. The pin 42 with a head portion is greater in length than the longitudinal length of the holder 10 so as to define the open gap of the gripper upon edge alignment. On the other hand, the gripper opening means 12A consists, as shown in FIGS. 9 and -19, of a cut-away portion 44 provided in the center portion of the gripping member 11 and a tool 45 adapted to be fitted therein. The tool 45 serves as a cam. Thus, as shown in FIG. 17, when the tool 45 is rotated, with the forward end of the saddle l3 and the given position on the surface of the saddle supporting cylinder 46 serving as a fulcrum, the holder 10 will be urged against the rear edge portion of the saddle 13.

FIG. 19 shows another tool 47 adapted to be rotated with the front edge of the saddle 13 serving as a fulcrum. The tool 47 assumes a simple bar shape, with one end of the T shaped manipulating portion of the tool 47 being formed with a wedge type tool 48 adapted to open the gripper mounted on the forward portion of the saddle 13.

The tool 48 is used for opening the automatic closing type gripper provided on the forward edge portion of the saddle as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17. The gripper consists of the forward edge portion of the saddle 13 and a gripping member 11A of a L shaped crosssection located in the recessed portion 14A provided in the rear side of the saddle.

Shown at 43A is a guide hole having small and large diameter portions, with the small diameter portion being provided on the side of the shoulder portion 14A of-therecessedportion 14A, said guide hole being provided in the gripping member 11A. Shown at 42A is an attaching pin with a head portion which, is anchored in the shoulder portion 14A of the recessed portion 14A .inprojecting relation therefrom.

1 The gripping'member 11A is urged against the rear edge portion of the. saddle 13 by means of a spring 29A 'interposed between the head portion 42A of the attaching pin42A'and the shoulder portion 43A in the guide hole 43A. Shown M49 is acut-away portion provided on the opposite sides of the center presscontacting portions of the gripping member 11A. The cut-away portion 49 serves to open the gripper by inserting the aforesaid tool 48 therein. A hole 50 continuous with the cut-away portion 49 is provided in the gripping member 11A to prevent interference with the projecting movement of the gripping member 11A at the time of opening of the gripper. In passing, the gripper attached to the forward edge portion of the saddle 13 illustrates the possibility of the gripper of being attached to the forward edge portion of the saddle, when a printing sheet is attached to the surface of the saddle. with the saddle being attached to a printing cylinder, and thus should not be construed in a limitative sense.

The operation of the printing sheet gripping device as shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 19 is similar to that of the aforesaid gripping device, except that the tools 45 or 47 are rotated within the cut-away portion 44, whereby the cam action thereof will uniformly hold the holder 10 against the shoulder portion 14 of the recessed portion 14.

What is claimed is:

l. A printing sheet gripping device affixed to a printing saddle comprising:

a. a holding member slidingly attached to one end of said printing saddle,

b. a gripping member slidingly attached to the same end of said printing saddle as said holding member;

c. a first biasing means between said holding member and said printing saddle to bias said holding member away from said end of said printing saddle and toward said gripping member;

d. a second biasing means between said gripping member and said holding member to bias said gripping member toward said holding member, and

e. gripper opening means engaging said holding member such that movement of said gripper means overcomes said first biasing means and moves said holding member toward said end of said printing saddle and away from said gripping member.

2. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said printing saddle has a widthwise recess forming a shoulder surface and said holding member has a generally L shaped cross-section having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, each of said vertical leg and said horizontal leg having an inner surface with the inner surface of the vertical leg in sliding contact with said recess in said printing saddle and the inner surface of the horizontal leg facing the end of said printing saddle.

3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein said first biasing means comprises a plurality of compression springs interposed between said holding member and said shoulder surface on said printing saddle.

4. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said holding member is attached to said printing saddle by means which also serve to guide said holding member 8 chanical interconnnection comprises a hook pivotally attached to each of said levers, the hook engaging projections extending from each end of said holding member. r

8. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said gripping member has a central portion cut away to facilitate engagement with the gripper opening means.

9. The gripping device of claim 7 wherein the gripper opening means comprises a hand tool having a cam surface which engages said cut-away central portion. 

1. A printing sheet gripping device affixed to a printing saddle comprising: a. a holding member slidingly attached to one end of said printing saddle, b. a gripping member slidingly attached to the same end of said printing saddle as said holding member; c. a first biasing means between said holding member and said printing saddle to bias said holding member away from said end of said printing saddle and toward said gripping member; d. a second biasing means between said gripping member and said holding member to bias said gripping member toward said holding member, and e. gripper opening means engaging said holding member such that movement of said gripper means overcomes said first biasing means and moves said holding member toward said end of said printing saddle and away from said gripping member.
 2. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said printing saddle has a widthwise recess forming a shoulder surface and said holding member has a generally ''''L'''' shaped cross-section having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, each of said vertical leg and said horizontal leg having an inner surface with the inner surface of the vertical leg in sliding contact with said recess in said printing saddle and the inner surface of the horizontal leg facing the end of said printing saddle.
 3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein said first biasing means comprises a plurality of compression springs interposed between said holding member and said shoulder surface on said printing saddle.
 4. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said holding member is attached to said printing saddle by means which also serve to guide said holding member and control the extent of movement between said holding member and said printing saddle.
 5. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein the second biasing means comprises a compression coil spring.
 6. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein the gripper opening means comprises a lever pivotally attached to each side of said printing saddle adjacent the end thereof and is mechanically interconnected to said holding member such that movement of said levers moves said holding member toward said printing saddle.
 7. The gripping device of claim 6 wherein the mechanical interconnnection comprises a hook pivotally attached to each of said levers, the hook engaging projections extending from each end of said holding member.
 8. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said gripping member has a central portion cut away to facilitate engagement with the gripper opening means.
 9. The gripping device of claim 7 wherein the gripper opening means comprises a hand tool having a cam surface which engages said cut-away central portion. 